September 9, 2011 -- The two Grand Slam tournaments converge as the brave and the bold of The Great Arena duke it out for the ultimate glory of defeating a field of their peers to become tournament champion! Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] enters the Quarter Final stage as only the second one hundred and twenty-eight fighter field narrows to eight of the best fighters the league has seen. Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] delivers the same, with an eclectic mix of the new and old, only the second time the Duo Division has offered tournament glory to the ranks!
Who will reign supreme in the Grand Slam tour? Will it be Cr0w with his phenomenal win streak? Will it be ElJobber with the uncompromising will to win? Will it be Hokey & Ninja_Mime for the first time? Will it be Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon in another surprise finish? Will it be Ratt -- the marathon Iron Man who never quits? Will it be Scott-Howell & Murdoink -- the Duo Division originals?
Day 12 is the final stop before the ultimate showdown of the finals!
Grand Slam [Singles] Quarter Final Results:
1. Cr0w [1] d. TonyTheTiger [10] in a +21 annihilation!
It was supposed to be a challenging roadblock for the rampaging Undisputed Champion, but instead, the Quarter Finals proved just another statistic for #1 seed and all around dominator, Cr0w!
It was during Tournament 7 that TonyTheTiger radically transformed his reputation for being the ultimate opportunist, finally finding his claws in a string of decimations that set him up for a surprise loss in the final round. This newfound competitive edge saw TTT continue a predatory path through the field in Tournament 8 and suggested he could be a legitimate threat! Alas; a twenty-second straight victory would be delivered to Cr0w with devastating results, leaving TTT broken and battered after a +21 annihilation! Despite the unceremonious exit, TonyTheTiger leaves Tournament 8 with a world of credibility -- a stark contrast to the days of his shortcut attempts into the top rankings!
Meanwhile, the question on many lips remains -- who can stop the unstoppable force of Cr0w? With some of the strongest competition in the league looming in the finals, Cr0w may yet find himself navigating the walk of shame out of the winners circle of The Great Arena! Then again, with each of the top challengers already tasting defeat against the Undisputed Champion, his confidence will be riding high as he seeks to pick up a second consecutive 128-fighter tournament win!
2. Genku [8] d. Porygonix [14]
Emerging from a hard fought Fourth Round win over The_Purple_Bunny [9]; Genku did not quite look like the eighth seed he had been in previous results. Clearly wearing signs of battle fatigue, Genku had a legitimate task ahead of him against Porygonix -- fighter who achieved the unlikely feat of eliminating Kron [4] from the Fourth Round in a major upset!
Despite his flagging state, Genku was strong enough to fend off any prospects of another upset victory. Spurred on by the possibility of earning a rematch against his Supercard 11 Championship rival, Genku powered over Porygonix, fortunate enough to be faced with a challenger who very well may have expended his best in the previous round. Genku will no doubt use the opportunity to rally his best for a clash with Cr0w in the Semi Final -- a shot at redemption for the would-be Champion!
3. ElJobber [7] d. Ghostdragon in a decimation.
Time and again Ghostdragon has found himself fading at the crucial moment, but this once dubbed underrated fighter mustn't be forgotten as a former tournament winner, enjoying a coheld victory with Pink_Ranger as winner of Tournament 6! With a big win against Hokey [3] in the Fourth Round, GD has the spiritual momentum with him -- but would it be enough to quell a force who delivered two +30 MAX damage demolitions earlier in the tour? Sadly for Ghostdragon, the answer was no.
ElJobber has endured a tumultuous period of recent times, losing the gloss of fan-favourite status amidst speculation that he engaged in an underhanded attack at 2011 Ultimate Grand Prix! While allegations leveled by Tyrant-Cenobite haven't yet proven to be true -- the mud stuck and ElJobber transformed from "conscience" of The Great Arena, to one of its most callous competitors, at Tower of Power II!
Ghostdragon was defeated, but far from disgraced. The Quarter Final may not be the conclusive follow through GD would have liked to experience, but against a fighter as unforgiving as ElJobber, keeping the loss to a +2 impact is no mean feat! Ghostdragon must be recognised as having answered his critics with the impressive performance, which included collecting Hokey and Next Phase rival, Jammer2Omega, along the way. ElJobber, of course, reaffirms his newfound dominance in The Great Arena, looking ever dangerous to contest the elusive Undisputed Championship!
4. Ratt [2] d. Ken in a solid win.
A longstanding member of the upper echelon, Ken suffered several setbacks in his quest to become Undisputed Champion over the past few months! Hovering just outside the unofficial contenders list, he has needed some big wins to rejoin the top talent of The Great Arena. Fortunately, a generous run; which included circumventing Toryn [5] courtesy of a Blaze upset; meant Ken achieved exactly as was needed, following on from some much needed wins in event competition! Nobody could have wanted the dream to remain alive for Ken more than Ratt, but with tournament glory on the line, "The Iron Man" knew he would be doing Ken a disservice to be anything but his best!
The pair matched up surprisingly well as Ken fired up against the overwhelming odds of the number two seed! Unintimidated, Ken put in a considerate challenge, and despite being outclassed by an "Iron Man" in the endurance stakes, he kept the hurt to a minimum. Ratt was never in doubt as winner, but Ken has once against captured the imagination of the people. Ken will be rooting for Ratt as he moves into the final day of competition, but you can bet your bottom dollar that he's doing so with a future shot of his own, in mind.
Grand Slam [Doubles] Third Round Results:
1. Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1] d. Artanix & foahchon
They may be the ultra dominant Duo Division Champions and number one seeded tandem for Tournament 9, but Hokey & Ninja_Mime are 0-1 when it comes to taking out the top prize of a Duo Division tournament. The psychology of the match was a twisted pretzel, not the least of which was influenced by Hokey and Ninja_Mime's solo defeats, Day 11. Artanix and foahchon may have exitted earlier, but with a T7 Semi Final and Challenger 7 qualification still fresh on Artanix' win/loss record, there was the scent of possibility in the air in this clash of veteran doubles!
The reigning champions felt themselves pressured in ways that were largely unfamiliar. Carrying a win/loss record that would make even Cr0w think twice about fighting either of the pair, Hokey & Ninja_Mime were rattled beyond expectations! Even so, experience ensured they were cool under fire. A big win pushes the champs through to the Semi Final, but the scars of this fight may prove psychological as they face the pointy end -- where they were defeated by Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon during T6!
2. DaMo & DeathScepter [3] d. JoelKatz & KittyKat in a +3 tandem decimation!
Always an unlikely pair beyond the First Round, JoelKatz & KittyKat looked well and truly out of their depth against the bizarre but seasoned pairing of DaMo & DeathScepter! Progressing through some surprise results and a generous draw, JoelKatz & KittyKat had none of the skills necessary to counteract the sheer force behind D&D's main event assult power.
DaMo & DeathScepter were massively confident as they charged to an impressive +3 decimation of their out-of-their-league opponents! The match sets up a compelling rematch situation for D&D, who were unsuccessful in their attempts to gain the Duo Division Championships at Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown! Is payback the next chapter in their tale -- or would that just be too conventional for the bizarre pairing?
3. Pink_Ranger/Ghostdragon [5] d. Scott-Howell/Murdoink [4]
The first-ever Duo Division Champions might be the only pairing to have a tournament victory in their list of achievements (Tournament 6), but seeded fifth, even they had to be somewhat uncertain of the challenge that awaited in Duo Originals and #4 doubles, Scott-Howell & Murdoink!
Tensions have existed between "Sugar" Scott-Howell and his partner ever since the launch of the Duo titles, which they have repeatedly been unsuccessful in competing for. Against the original title holders, that tension appeared to shine through, even as the Duo Originals enjoyed a convincing performance! Even with the sting of defeat fresh on his shoulders from the Singles brackets, Ghostdragon was able to combine with Pink_Ranger to once again progress to the Semi Final stages of the tournament. A result that appeared to push Howell and Murdoink to breaking point, leading the pair to turn the blame on each other!
4. m0s & Nemesis316 d. SubMan799 & Casselman [6]
They may have come from nowhere, but m0s & Nemesis316 announced themselves as a tandem to be reckoned with when, in the Second Round, they eliminated #2 seeds and standing #1 contenders to the Championships, DECEPTION & Onryo! Riding high on the success, it was fair to wonder if #6 seeds, SubMan799 & Casselman were truly favourites in the R3 clash!
The two teams matched up incredibly well, but a struggling SubMan799 presented something of an anchor to the fortunes of the #6 seeds. Looking on the verge of death, SubMan799 was a weakened counter to super-charged "Mr. Daruma" m0s, who has proven himself as an electrifying presence since taking out the arcade Daruma 7 feature in two amazing sideshows! A lopsided affair saw m0s captain the duo to an exciting and unpredictable Semi Final appearance!
September 10 will go on record as the grand finale for the Grand Slams! Four finalists remain in Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] and Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] as the Semi Final stage brings together the best of the best in a must-win situation!
Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] - Semi Final:
1. Cr0w [1] versus Genku [8]
Cr0w [1] chases his twenty-third and twenty-fourth straight victory when he faces a rematch of the Supercard 11 Championship bout, against Genku [8]! Will the past deliver the keys to victory to the #8 seed, or is the unstoppable force of Cr0w destined to reign undefeated for another major win? These two men are former tournament champions, victors over Tournament 1 and Tournament 2 respectively, no less. T2 delivered Cr0w the first Undisputed Championship, but Genku won T1 before there was any gold to speak of! Will destiny deliver victory to Genku, or is Cr0w fated to win it all?
2. ElJobber [7] versus Ratt [2]
Once they represented the "conscience" and "heart" of The Great Arena, but at Tower of Power II, ElJobber [7] became a dark mirror to the fan-favourite "Iron Man" Ratt [2]! Neither of these time tested combatants have ever gained total victory over a tournament field -- who will be the one to earn the spot? ElJobber has delivered multiple MAX damage impacts to his opponents as he relentlessly pursues the Undisputed Championship he has never won. Ratt knows what it means to endure the harshest of conditions and has been the Undisputed Champion his opponent has not! Ratt owns a victory from Pre-Show 8, but ElJobber avenged it at Supercard 10. However you cut it, it's going to be one heckuva blockbuster!
Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] - Semi Final:
1. Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1] vs DaMo & DeathScepter [3]
At Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown, DaMo & DeathScepter [3] were unsuccessful in their bid to take the Duo Division Championship from the reigning combination of Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1]! They may be the overwhelming favourites, the #1 seeded team with the doubles gold, but the only time Hokey & Ninja_Mime have ever won was at Tournament 6, the only other time the Duo Division was tested in an elimination bracket. Could history play on the minds of the dominant duo, or are D&D due for another domination at the hands of the champs?
2. Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5] vs m0s & Nemesis316
Ghostdragon was the only competitor successful enough to make it to the final eight of both the Singles and Doubles Grand Slam tournaments. He may have been unsuccessful in the solo field, but with attentions turn exclusively to the Duo Division, he rejoins Pink_Ranger to challenge a second tournament victory as #5 seeds! m0s & Nemesis316 weren't a part of Tournament 6: The Duo Championships, making their debut as a duo in Tournament 9, but already they have amassed a reputation. After eliminating the current #1 contenders for the Duo Division Championships in Round 2, they charged through the seasoned combo of SubMan799 & Casselman to earn this Semi Final opportunity! It'll be a clash of the old and new, the tested and the unknown as these two teams go head-to-head in another exciting clash!
Every match is a main event as September 10 delivers the Semi Final and Grand Final stages of both Tournament 8 and Tournament 9! Then, the action continues on Sunday as Pre-Show 12: Grand Slam Aftermath returns competition to a standard format! It's a massive Grand Slam Weekend in The Great Arena -- don't miss it!
No comments:
Post a Comment